Mixed outcomes for bypoll incumbents

Ruling parties lost half of the eight assembly constituencies that went to bypolls across six states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where the ruling National Conference faced a major setback in its first electoral battle since coming to power last year, losing its stronghold Budgam and forfeiting deposit in Nagrota.

- HT Correspondents

Results of November II bypolls to eight seats — Budgam and Nagrota in J&K, Anta in Rajasthan, Ghatsila in Jharkhand, Jubilee Hills in Telangana, Tarn Taran in Punjab, Nuapada in Odisha and Dampa in Mizoram —were declared on Friday, along with the verdict of the Bihar assembly polls.

Budgam

A central Kashmir constituency, Budgam has remained a bastion for the National Conference (NC) and its first family, the Abdullahs. On Friday, the bastion was breached by the Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), handing the NC its first-ever defeat in this constituency.

PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi defeated Aga Syed Mehmood Al-Mosavi of the NC by 4,478 votes. The bypoll, which was the first electoral challenge for the NC since coming to power in the UT last year, was necessitated after chief minister Omar Abdullah vacated the seat, retaining Ganderbal after winning both constituencies in the October 2024 state polls.

Mehdi said the mandate reflected the public's response to years of neglect in the UT. “This is a result of our hard work of 50 years... The way people of Budgam were neglected in 2024, today the people of Budgam have given a befitting reply,” he said.

Nagrota